Today, we wanted to address a topic that is particularly close to our hearts: Female entrepreneurship.

Indeed, when we embarked on this adventure in November 2017, we really took a huge leap of faith: we left our respective jobs and invested our savings... A big challenge was beginning.
After 7 months of adventure, we've made good progress and don't regret a second of having taken the plunge!
So, yes, there are ups and downs, but that's like any adventure! And what we wanted to show you through this article is that daring to embark on something is a unique experience worth living.

And because we have supported female entrepreneurship since day one, we have agreed to be ambassadors for the amazing program "Les Elles by Contrex", which encourages women to take the plunge.

You can find our interview here.

So, let's get down to business... With a few figures to start!

In France, women represent:

• 87% of nurses
• 65% of teachers

Did you say "stereotype"?

Yes, because, at the same time, women also represent, and only:

• 23% of writers,
• 33% of associations,
• 16% of surgeons
• 15% of business owners*
• 8% of business creators

Only 18% of women feel the desire and confidence to start their own business…

We realize that prejudices are still deeply ingrained and that mentalities are changing slowly...

Just a quick and stinging reminder: it's only since 1965 that our mothers have been allowed to open a bank account without the authorization of their dear husbands!
No, no, that's not a joke…

Even in 2018, women feel less legitimate than men to embark on something because they doubt their professional abilities and lack self-confidence. Thanks to the weight of the collective unconscious and education!

But let's be positive and consider the glass half full.

"Woman is the future of man," as Aragon so rightly said, and in 2018, the future belongs to women entrepreneurs!

A new generation is emerging, that of the "Millennials."
Indeed, the most entrepreneurial age group among women is 25-34 years old.
And several studies reveal that women of this generation are more self-confident! Phew, we're finally breaking free from stereotypes and moving forward!

So, what makes a woman wake up one morning and decide to become an entrepreneur?
It's difficult to draw up an exhaustive list of motivations, which are, of course, very different from one woman to another; but let's try.

It's because:
♡ We need to fulfill ourselves and better utilize our skills
♡ We have a well-thought-out idea, a passion for a product or a profession
♡ We want to secure our own employment
♡ We want to support a fulfilling life project (69% of women believe that creating their own business is fulfilling. Oops, more numbers!) and improve our quality of life)

And we have many more reasons….

Now, what about profiling the young female entrepreneur?
♡ She is passionate and determined
♡ She wants to break codes and overturn clichés
♡ She is not afraid to display her ambitions
♡ She makes full use of ingenuity
♡ She is addicted to the Internet and social media
♡ She wears many hats
♡ She is hardworking, organized, and resilient
♡ She knows how to surround herself with the right people

However, she might be afraid of debt and not being able to raise enough funds.

Of course, there are as many different motivations and profiles as there are female entrepreneurs!

But they all have one thing in common...
They had the desire, they let go, they dared!!

They thought they had a promising concept, they put it to the test, thought big, and refined it later!

"At the origin of all success, there is the act of having dared," said Jacques Audiberti, a contemporary writer.
Of course, it's easy to say, but launching your startup is still no small feat!

Don't worry, creators are not alone!

It is very important to rely on a network when starting out, to exchange and benefit from the power of professional relationship circles.

That's why, for those who want to take the plunge but need a little extra push, we're listing, in the second part of this article, lots of good plans to get support (incubators, associations, Business Angels, etc.).

Some of the most well-known female incubators:

- Les Premières, the 1^st female entrepreneurship network with over 20 incubators and nurseries dedicated to innovative female entrepreneurs and creators of sustainable employment. It offers personalized support and project hosting for 1 year.

- Willa (formerly Paris Pionnières), the 1^st diversity accelerator (at least 1 woman in the management team). It supports women by developing thematic partnerships with external structures.

Associations are also very active in terms of networks:

-Action'elles, an association that provides long-term support to women in creating and developing their businesses and connects them with experienced business leaders.

- Girlz in Web, an association dedicated to promoting women in the digital sector to help them advance. It fosters an internal network for meetings on digital topics.

- StartHer, supports women passionate about technology and organizes events focused on innovation and new technologies.

- Femmes Entrepreneurs, promotes female entrepreneurship in all its initiatives and gives visibility to female entrepreneurs.

Major schools have also launched initiatives to promote female entrepreneurship:

- ESSEC with Entreprendre au féminin, supports women by providing fundamental legal, marketing, accounting, and strategic knowledge.

- The HEC Paris Entrepreneurship Center organizes training seminars "HEC Stand up" primarily for women from disadvantaged neighborhoods with a project of positive impact creation.

Finally, we found only one network of female "business angels" in France:

- Femmes Business Angels, connects innovative project leaders with investors ready to invest between 100,000 and 1 million euros.

So, ready for the Adventure, Ladies??

If you need advice, don't hesitate to send us an email at hello@lespetitsprodiges.com.

*20 employees and more